—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Kolton schiltz charges a ball for Fort Dodge on Monday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge baseball squad was clicking on all cylinders as it pulled away from Ames to take the opening game of a critical twinbill on Monday at McNeil Field.

The Little Cyclones responded in the nightcap, though, leaving the Dodgers with work to do — and in need of help — for a chance at the Iowa Alliance Conference’s Northern Division championship.

A nine-run fifth inning broke open a close contest and gave head coach Blake Utley’s team a 12-2 victory. Fort Dodge fell behind early and wasn’t able to complete the sweep, however, dropping a 7-5 decision to conclude a hot, breezy doubleheader against Ames.

The Dodgers (28-8 overall, 11-3 in the IAC North) and Mason City (25-8, 10-2) are now in a virtual tie atop the league standings. The Riverhawks ran their win streak to eight in the conference with a sweep of Waterloo East on Monday.

Mason City still plays Marshalltown and the Little Cyclones (16-17, 9-5) this week. FDSH will have to take down East twice on Wednesday, then play the waiting game and hope the Riverhawks slip up at least once.

Monday’s tilt saw the Dodgers take complete command in the fifth of the opener, thanks to a two-run double by junior Will McElroy, an RBI triple by senior Jaxson Dencklau and a number of Ames miscues. Junior Davis Underberg ended things early via the mercy rule with a run-scoring single.

“We played our tails off (in game one),” Utley said. “Everything was kind of hanging in the balance at 3-2 in the fifth when the floodgates exploded. That was great to see, both for our offense and Tanner (Peterson) on the mound.”

Peterson worked five innings with six strikeouts in improving to 4-3. Junior Bo Marsh homered, with classmate Tru McBride adding a pair of doubles.

McElroy drove in three.

The Little Cyclones jumped ahead 5-0 in the nightcap and held on from there. The Dodgers staged a late rally — pulling within two runs and having the go-ahead run at the plate — but Ames escaped.

“It’s tough to spot a team five runs when they’re fighting to get out of here with a split and avoid the season sweep as well,” Utley said. “We got a little of a big-ball mentality instead of manufacturing runs, which is when we’re at our best. I love the fight we showed. We just didn’t get enough of the two-out hits we needed, and we weren’t closing out innings early when they capitalized and built that (five-run) lead.

“Give Ames credit for (thwarting the comeback). We were close, but they found a way. They’ve been playing good ball lately (10-3 in the last 13) and they tripped us up.”

Fort Dodge closes IAC North action for 2026 at home on Wednesday against Waterloo East. The Dodgers are looking for their first 30-win campaign since their state runner-up season of 2012.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

FORT DODGE 12, AMES 2 (5)

Ames 110 00 — 2 3 2

Fort Dodge 111 09 — 12 10 0

WP–Tanner Peterson (4-3; 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). 2B–FD: Tru McBride 2, Will McElroy. 3B–FD: Jaxson Dencklau. HR–FD: Bo Marsh; Ames: Reid Schmal, Max Martin. SB–FD: Kolton Schiltz, Davis Underberg.

AMES 7, FORT DODGE 5

Ames 311 011 0 –7 14 0

Fort Dodge 000 203 0 — 5 6 3

2B–FD: Hayden Porter; Ames: Reid Schmal, Jackson Kepley, Cullen Smith, Cade Anderson. HR–Ames: Austin Naber. SB–FD: Mason Frevert, Jaxson Dencklau.